Freeroll Fantasy Advisor: UFC 189 ‘Mendes vs. McGregor’
International Fight Week is upon us, and UFC 189 “Mendes vs. McGregor” is right around the corner. While some of the air has been let out of this balloon, there is still a lot to be excited for when it comes to the latest Ultimate Fighting Championship card on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. One of the perks from this offering is another chance to score big with fantasy MMA. My website of choice is still Kountermove.com.
Despite featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s absence, there is plenty to see here. I really like this card from an entertainment standpoint and a fantasy perspective. At Kountermove, you will find Aldo’s replacement, Chad Mendes, running at $5,400 of your fantasy payroll. While he costs more than the favored Conor McGregor, I see this as a pick ’em fight; and let us be honest, this is only a pick ’em fight because Mendes coming in on short notice. Had the Team Alpha Male product been afforded a proper training camp, his line would be -200 in the sportsbooks, and his Kountermove price would be well over $5,500. I am so confident in Mendes that I think if you play multiple fantasy MMA games, he should be a staple in all of your lineups.
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As always when building out your Kountermove team, you want to compare prices to the current betting lines. There are some straight steals here as I write this piece. Alex Garcia and Mike Swick are at an even $4,800 on the Kountermove menu. However, the latest line has Garcia at -450. While I respect Swick, the betting public does not. Generally, that is a good indicator for who is coming out on top.
Also catching my eye is John Howard. While the Boston native looks like a sizeable underdog on the pay sheet, Vegas has him at even money or as a small favorite over Cathal Pendred. I do not like picking against Howard -- ever. I have done it far too often on Sherdog Radio Network “Roundtables” and far too often in fantasy MMA. If you find yourself spending big on a guy like Rory MacDonald, “Doomsday” might be a logical way to save some cash and still get decent points.
Alliance MMA’s Jeremy Stephens is an understandable underdog to Dennis Bermudez, but his power does not care what Kountermove or any sportsbooks say. While it seems likely Bermudez gets the victory, I cannot blame anyone for throwing a Hail Mary on the Iowan. If a Stephens upset catches your eye, he is worth the $4,300 risk.
Take this information and run with it. We live in a fantasy sports-driven world, and you can win some money -- even money for nothing -- with these nuggets. At Kountermove.com, you can play for bragging rights or cold hard cash. Sign up now for our Sherdog.com Freeroll. With no entry fee, you can sign up for your chance at winning part of our $100 prize pool.
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